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Sustainable Gardening in WHITTLESEA This Booklet Was Produced by the City of Whittlesea sustainable gardening IN WHITTLESEA This booklet was produced by the City of Whittlesea. Ferres Boulevard, South Morang Locked Bag 1, Bundoora MDC 3083 DX97406 Thomastown www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au The original booklet was produced for the City of Darebin with kind permission to modify. Text by Sustainable Gardening Australia. www.sgaonline.org.au Photographs by Helen Moss, Scott Watson, Viridans, Flora.cyberia, Mark Imhof, City of Whittlesea and Clare White from Plenty Valley Community Garden. City of Whittlesea is Original design by Judy Watson, Thumbprint. committed to contributing to the achievement of Editing by Ralph Spethmann, Migawa Design. sustainability within Printed on Cyclus recycled paper. Whittlesea and promoting sustainability to others. Vegetable dyes used. Printed in 2006. Disclaimer: Although precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, the publishers, authors and printers cannot accept responsibility for any claim, loss, damage or liability arising out of the use of the information published. © City of Whittlesea 1 CONTENT Introduction .............................................................................. 2 Caring for your Soil ................................................................... 3 Compost and Worms – easy and fun! ...................................... 5 Chemicals .................................................................................. 8 Vegetable Gardening ............................................................... 10 Water in the Garden ................................................................ 13 Rainwater Tanks ....................................................................... 15 Greywater ................................................................................. 17 Garden Design ......................................................................... 18 Habitat Gardening ................................................................... 22 Plant Selection ......................................................................... 29 Whittlesea Local Plants ............................................................ 32 Native Plant List ........................................................................ 38 Lawns ......................................................................................... 39 Sustainable Product Selection .................................................. 40 For Further Advice .................................................................... 41 2 Sustainable G a r d e n i n g i n t h e C i t y o f W h i t t l e s e a INTRODUCTION It is easy to create beautiful gardens that suit our local climate and soil and have a low impact on our natural environment. Sustainable gardens are low maintenance as they require less watering, lower application of fertilisers and chemicals, and less mowing and pruning. Gardening can have a positive benefit to the health of our environment. When we: • Use local plants we provide food and shelter for birds and butterflies. • Conserve water in the garden it helps to maintain water levels in our reservoirs. • Reduce chemical use in the garden there will be less chemicals in our creeks and streams. • Compost our household and garden organic waste it reduces the amount of waste going in to landfill and therefore cuts the amount of greenhouse gas produced. • Purchase renewable resources for the garden instead of non- renewable resources, it can help protect our old growth forests and Showing the way to sustainable gardening. river ecosystems. Gardening is all about creating a beautiful environment. It is important that we create diverse and interesting gardens for our family and friends to come together to work, play and socialise. This booklet has been designed to provide information and inspiration to create your own sustainable garden in the City of Whittlesea. C a r i n g F o r Yo u r S o i l 3 CARING FOR YOUR SOIL Healthy soil = healthy plants. Soil needs organic matter such as leaf litter, compost, manure and grass clippings. Worms break down organic matter to make food for plants, and worm burrows allow air into the soil so that plant roots can breathe. Organic matter needs to be replaced as plants absorb nutrients. Compost adds nutrients to the soil, improves water holding capacity and needs to be dug in. Mulch is placed on top of the soil to reduce water evaporation and control weed growth. If organic matter is mixed with mulch the material can “cake” up and form an impermeable barrier that rain can’t get through. Benefits of mulch Mulch layer breaks down to add Weeds pulled out easily evaporation nutrients to soil Weed seeds reduced screened from light = less germination SOIL IMPROVEMENT TIPS 1. Mulches made from recycled organics are an excellent choice as they save water, last well and feed the soil when they break down. Locally produced clean greenwaste is taken to the Epping Greenwaste Recycling Facility where it is recycled into quality mulches, soils and composts for purchase. No chemicals are used in the processing or composting of the greenwaste. For information on Council’s greenwaste collection service please call 9401 0555. 2. Soil should be damp before you add mulch. Generally Spring is the best time to apply mulch, once the winter rains have soaked in. 4 Sustainable G a r d e n i n g i n t h e C i t y o f W h i t t l e s e a 3. Expansive clay soil in the Doreen region would benefit from the addition of gypsum and compost. 4. Pea straw is a good option if you have not mulched the soil for a long time as it breaks down quickly, returning nutrients to the soil. 5. Soil improvement (such as pea straw) is generally only required for exotic plants, vegetables and fruit trees. Most local and native plants like a relatively infertile soil. If you mulch, use a bark mulch on its own without soil improvement, or gravel as a mulch. 6. When buying new soil for your garden, buy a soil that is mixed with recycled organics or compost. Don’t forget to: Check mulch levels and replace every year to bring back to a minimum of 2.5cm and maximum of 7.5cm. Regularly add organic matter (e.g. compost, manure) to your soil. Use the best type of mulch for the plants in your garden. Check your garden for worms. Three or more worms found in a spade full of soil is a good indicator of healthy soil. Only dig your soil when you need to. Further Information Hodges, Jeff (1996) The Natural Gardener, Angus & Robertson, Melbourne, Victoria. Roads, M.J. (1989) The Natural Magic of Mulch, Greenhouse Publications, Elwood, Victoria. www.sgaonline.org.au www.sustainability.vic.gov.au C o m p o s t a n d W o r m s – E a s y a n d F u n ! 5 COMPOST AND WORMS – EASY AND FUN! Composting or worm farming your food scraps, grass and garden clippings (organics) can provide you with an excellent source of free garden food and soil improver. In addition to creating great fertiliser, it reduces greenhouse gases, saves water and dramatically reduces the amount of waste going to landfill. COMPOSTING TIPS 1. Your compost bin or heap should be located on soil, so that it drains well and worms and bacteria can enter the bin to decompose the waste. 2. a) All compost bins or heaps need a balance of materials that: • Are high in nitrogen, such as blood and bone, Dynamic Lifter or chicken manure. Kitchen scraps and grass clippings also contain nitrogen. • Contain carbon, such as dried leaves or shredded newspapers. • Aim for a ratio of 30 parts carbon : 1 part nitrogen. b) In addition, the compost heap or bin needs: • Water – enough so that the contents are moist but not wet. • Oxygen – added by regularly turning over the contents. • Warmth – locate your compost bin in a sunny place, but not with direct sunlight all day. 3. If you are left with half decomposed lumps in your compost add smaller pieces of food to the bin/heap to ensure it all decomposes evenly. Always crush eggshells. 4. Ants and slaters are an indication your heap is too dry. Add a sprinkling of water or less dry matter. 5. Meat scraps or fish bones can be added to compost, but only if its working efficiently and quickly. They are best avoided so not to encourage vermin, especially over summer. 6 Sustainable Gardening in the City of Whittlesea Building a layered compost heap This diagram is an example of the different layers (each 3-10 cm). Alternating kitchen and garden waste layers with an occasional layer of manure works well. layer of felt or hessian to retain heat and moisture Low Nitrogen soil and water High Nitrogen kitchen waste water Low Nitrogen garden waste High Nitrogen manure Low Nitrogen coarse prunings High Nitrogen grass clippings Low Nitrogen soil High Nitrogen herbs or seaweed Low Nitrogen coarse prunings loosely forked soil base Add to your compost Keep out of your compost – fruit and vegetable scraps – fish and meat – coffee grounds and tea bags – cat and dog droppings; consider – egg shells and animal fur a pet poo worm farm instead – onions and cut up citrus fruit – pizza and egg cartons – big woody prunings – vacuum cleaner dust – bulbous weeds e.g. oxalis spp. – pure cotton articles (cut up) – weeds with runners – grass clippings (3-4cm layers) e.g. couch grass – cut up prunings – bleached or glossy office paper – weeds without seed heads – pineapple tops – blood and bone – shredded newspaper – avocado seeds – small amounts of wood ash C o m p o s t i n g a n d W o r m s – E a s y a n d F u n ! 7 WORM FARMING Keeping earthworms in containers and feeding them fruit and vegetable scraps is an excellent way to reduce your garbage. Worms produce a rich inexpensive garden fertiliser, called worm castings, that is great for your garden. Worm farms are ideal for people living in flats or houses with small backyards. The City of Whittlesea offers residents subsidised compost bins and worm farms. Compost and worm farm workshops are also available through Council’s Environment Events Program. Workshops aim to provide an introduction to the concept of composting and equip participants with the necessary skills to maintain their own compost or worm farm whilst learning about its environmental benefits. Compost bins and worm farms can be purchased at the Council Offices or the Works Depot.
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